Chris Morris

Chris is a litigation partner for the firm based in our Auckland CBD office in Shortland Street, and has been a litigation lawyer for in excess of 30 years.

Chris has particularly relevant recent experience in advising clients, including corporates, directors, company officers, employers, and others who deal with the increasing number of active regulatory authorities in New Zealand including the Commerce Commission, Financial Markets Authority, Serious Fraud Office, and Customs Services. The advice has been provided from an early stage of an inquiry, or investigation, and continued through subsequent litigation of either a civil or criminal nature.

For many years Chris was a senior member of the panel of prosecutors called upon to prosecute serious criminal and regulatory matters on behalf of the Crown in Auckland, and elsewhere.

In addition Chris is often called upon to advise a range of clients on litigious matters including enforcement of contractual or other obligations owed to companies, joint ventures and other entities, in the health, transport, aviation, construction, and finance sectors.

Chris has considerable experience in acting for and advising professionals including lawyers, pharmacists, and doctors, who are facing complaints based investigation, and/or disciplinary proceedings arising from practice. Chris formerly conducted prosecutions on behalf of the New Zealand Law Society for a number of years when such were conducted on a panel basis.

In the sports law field, Chris is a long standing member of the World Rugby, SANZAAR and NZRU Judicial Officer panels and in that capacity deals with disciplinary issues arising on and off the sports field for international rugby, national, and our local provincial rugby competitions. Chris acts for players and sporting organisations of other sports in relation to disciplinary matters, contractual disputes and sponsorship issues.

The office maintains significant and important relationships with a number of highly experienced Queen’s Counsel, and the entire litigation team is experienced and able to manage excellent results with such counsel in the event such expertise is required.